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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Tajikistan have pledged early operationalization of a $1.2 billion Western-backed project to build a power line between Central Asia and South Asia, the Pakistani foreign office said on Thursday, after wide-ranging talks between both sides on trade, investment, defense and security issues.

The statement came after the 6th session of Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC) between Pakistan and Tajikistan in Dushanbe on September 29–30. The Pakistani delegation was led by Additional Foreign Secretary for West Asia and Afghanistan Syed Ali Asad Gillani, while the Tajik side was headed by Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Farrukh Sharifzoda.

The CASA-1000 project, launched in 2016, aims to allow Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, former Soviet republics with an extensive network of hydroelectric power plants, to sell excess energy to Pakistan and Afghanistan in the summer months. The project, initially meant to allow the export of electricity to Afghanistan and Pakistan by 2020, has been stalled for years by turmoil in Afghanistan.

“Both sides explored avenues to enhance trade, particularly through increased collaboration in textiles, logistics, agriculture and food, and pharmaceuticals,” the Pakistani foreign office said. “They underscored the significance of regional transport corridors and reaffirmed their commitment to the early operationalization of CASA-1000, aimed at strengthening regional integration and energy security.”

Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan generate most of their energy from hydropower plants built on the rivers that flow into Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan limit water release during summer due to lower power demand, angering their neighbors who need water for irrigation. The five countries have failed to reach an agreement after decades of negotiations.

The new power line could smooth flows as power demand in Pakistan peaks during the summer months.

In Feb. 2024, the World Bank, a key CASA-1000 backer, approved resumption of the clean energy project after it was stalled in 2022 due to turmoil in Afghanistan, with the Bank focusing on urgently needed education, agriculture and health programs.

It said construction of the project in the other three countries was nearly complete and these countries had requested that CASA-1000 activities in Afghanistan resume to avoid the risk of the project becoming a stranded asset.

Tajikistan aims to completely switch to green energy and zero emission by 2027.

“The transmission capacity of the CASA-1000 energy project will be 1,300 megawatts, which will be an energy link between Tajikistan, Pakistan, and Afghanistan to provide clean energy not only to regional countries but also fill the need of Pakistan’s industrial sector,” Tajikistan’s Deputy Minister for Energy Jamshed Shoimzoda said in June this year.

“Massive infrastructural projects will be beneficial for all of its stakeholders by fulfilling energy needs and strengthening regional connectivity.”

The United States was initially involved in financing the 1,200-km-long line as part of its New Silk Road initiative to integrate Afghanistan with Central Asia. Other project sponsors have included the World Bank, Islamic Development Bank, the UK Department for International Development, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday said that Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was en route to Gaza, endangers civilian lives and demanded the release of all activists aboard the vessels, reiterating its call for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to its blockade.

The Global Sumud Flotilla, which was carrying medicine and food to Gaza, consisted of more than 40 civilian boats carrying about 500 activists, lawyers and parliamentarians, including a Pakistani senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan.

Israeli forces boarded several boats in the flotilla carrying aid to Gaza and took them to an Israeli port on Wednesday, disrupting a protest that has become one of the most high-profile symbols of opposition to Israel’s blockade.

Pakistan’s foreign office said it strongly condemns the interception of the flotilla to deliver much needed humanitarian assistance to Gaza as a breach of Israel’s obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention.

“The unlawful detention of international activists onboard the flotilla constitutes yet another flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law by Israel, and endangers the lives of innocent civilians,” the Pakistani foreign office said.

“Pakistan reiterates its call for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire across all Occupied Palestinian Territories; the lifting of the illegal blockade of Gaza; unfettered access and provision of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people.”

The flotilla is the latest sea-borne attempt to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza, much of which has been turned into a wasteland by almost two years of war that has killed over 65,000 Palestinians. The flotilla’s organizers denounced Wednesday’s raid as a “war crime.” They said the military used aggressive tactics, including the use of water cannon but that no one was harmed.

A video from the Israeli foreign ministry verified by Reuters showed the most prominent of the flotilla’s passengers, Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, sitting on a deck surrounded by soldiers.

The flotilla’s progress across the Mediterranean Sea had garnered international attention as nations including Turkiye, Spain and Italy sent boats or drones in case their nationals required assistance, even as it triggered repeated warnings from Israel to turn back.
Pakistan, which does not diplomatic relations with Israel, called for immediate release of all humanitarian workers and activists onboard the flotilla and accountability for Israel’s repeated violations of international law.

“Pakistan reaffirms its unwavering support and solidarity with the Palestinian people in their just struggle for the realization of their inalienable right to self-determination and for the establishment of a viable, independent, sovereign and contiguous State of Palestine, based on pre-1967 borders,” its foreign office said.

The flotilla had hoped to arrive in Gaza on Thursday morning if it was not intercepted. This was the second time the flotilla was approached on Wednesday. Before dawn, the mission’s organizers said two Israeli “warships” had encircled two of the flotilla’s boats and scrambled its communications.

Last week, the flotilla was attacked by drones, which dropped stun grenades and itching powder on the vessels, causing damage but no injuries. Israel did not comment on that attack, but has said it will use any means to prevent the boats from reaching Gaza.